PPO ADR at MK, which mode of transport?

[Star Mom]

Hi everyone!

We have a pre park opening ADR 8.20am at MK on a non EMH day, (advertised 9am opening). Traveling with hubby, kids(4,2) with a stroller for them. What is the most efficient way to get to the park, and be on time?

Shuttle? Drive in? Or Cab?

What time should we be in line for MB scan?
Should we catch a shuttle to the park?
If driving in, what time at MK parking lot? Best time to get in for a close/good parking spot?
Should we take a cab in? And Shuttle back to hotel after park?

Thank you all!

 

[Robo]

Take your pick.

However,
Disney resort buses are free and they let you out directly at the MK gates.
Resort buses begin running by 6:30AM every day.

Driving and paid fare cars put guests at TTC, requiring an additional trip
on a monorail to get to the MK gates.

(Ask the paid fare driver to let you out at the Contemporary and
you can walk to the MK gates [10 min., or so.])

 

[Alesia]

Take the bus. Be at the stop by 7:00.

If you decide to drive, leave by 6:45.

If you take a cab, you'll need to bring the kids car seats with you. You'll need to leave by 7:00. Ask to be dropped off at the Contemporary and walk over to MK. You didn't say where you're staying, but it will probably be $20 to $30.

 

[tobikaye]

On-site resort or off-site resort? Where would you start from?

 

[Star Mom]

Unfortunately offsite at the time of the PPO ADR. We are doing a combo of offsite and on site, and we only got the wanted PPO ADR when we are offsite. So we were thinking if we can valet at any of the resorts and possibly take the shuttle or monorail direct. Just confused what we should do.

thanks so much everyone!

 

[tobikaye]

With the additional information, I would just drive in and park at valet at one of the resorts. My first choice would be CR since you can walk to/from MK. My second choice would be GF as the MK is the next stop on the monorail going and the first stop on the ferry returning from MK.

 

[Alesia]

Unfortunately offsite at the time of the PPO ADR. We are doing a combo of offsite and on site, and we only got the wanted PPO ADR when we are offsite. So we were thinking if we can valet at any of the resorts and possibly take the shuttle or monorail direct. Just confused what we should do.

thanks so much everyone!

Well, that changes things quite a bit. Drive and valet park at the contemporary then walk to MK.

 

[Star Mom]

Thank you eveyone for the great tips, and sorry I did not state where I was staying initially.

So basically these are my best options:
1) Vallet at CR and walk to MK?
2) Vallet at GF and monorail to MK?

Hiw often does the monorail run? how long would this take with the kids in the stroller with each option? I read in another post that there is a separate entrance for PPO ADR on the right or left side? And also they scan MB for reservations and let you in no mater what time your PPO ADR is. Is this accurate? Could I aim to be at the this entrance by 8am? Would this ok?

 

[jmkjr72]

But don't always count on being able to valet at a resort without an adr at the resort if it's a busy time they may not let you in the resort without an adr for that resort

 

[Alesia]

But don't always count on being able to valet at a resort without an adr at the resort if it's a busy time they may not let you in the resort without an adr for that resort

That is not going to be an issue for the OP. Honestly, I've only ever heard of it happening once or twice.

 

[Robo]

1) Vallet at CR and walk to MK?
2) Vallet at GF and monorail to MK?

A. Hiw often does the monorail run?
B. how long would this take with the kids in the stroller with each option?
C. I read in another post that there is a separate entrance for PPO ADR on the right or left side?
D. And also they scan MB for reservations and
E. let you in no mater what time your PPO ADR is. Is this accurate?
F. Could I aim to be at the this entrance by 8am? Would this ok?

A. About every 5-10 minutes.
B1) CR- About 15-20 minutes (once at the valet check-in.)
B2) GF- About 15-25 minutes (once at the valet check-in.)
C. Yup.
D. There are no reservations available via a MB.
E. Depends on the CMs in charge of entry on that day.
F. You can aim for any time you'd like, of course. 8AM is reasonable.
You may or may not be able to enter at any particular time,
or they may let you right in at 8AM.
Sounds right, but at WDW individual specifics can change.
Better to arrive too early than too late.

 

[Star Mom]

Thank you @Robo for the detailed answers, greatly appreciate it. But I have a couple more questions.

I read in an earlier post on DIS that the monorail starts at 7am, but not advertised so, is this true? when does the monorail really start running? Reason I ask is what if the security does not allow me to valet at either CR or GF due to lack of avaibility/attitude. Then what is my back up plan? park at parking lot and take mono rail to MK gates?

I called Disney and asked them what time the parking lot opens, a CM said
"One hour prior to park opening" they also mentioned that "the monorail starts at 8.30am" on 12/13/15 which means I would not make it to my reservation. Then CM put me on hold and said, "OK, based on your reservation, arrive at WDW, show the guard/CM your reservation and they will guide you to 'Special parking' that does not involve me using the monorail, and not indicated on the map."
Is there such a parking? Has anyone heard of this? I simply park apparently and walk straight to MK????

 

[Alesia]

Thank you @Robo for the detailed answers, greatly appreciate it. But I have a couple more questions.

1. I read in an earlier post on DIS that the monorail starts at 7am, but not advertised so, is this true?
2. when does the monorail really start running?
3. Reason I ask is what if the security does not allow me to valet at either CR or GF due to lack of avaibility/attitude.
4. Then what is my back up plan? park at parking lot and take mono rail to MK gates?

5. I called Disney and asked them what time the parking lot opens, a CM said
6. "One hour prior to park opening" they also mentioned that "the monorail starts at 8.30am" on 12/13/15 which means I would not make it to my reservation.
7. Then CM put me on hold and said, "OK, based on your reservation, arrive at WDW, show the guard/CM your reservation and they will guide you to 'Special parking' that does not involve me using the monorail, and not indicated on the map."
8. Is there such a parking? Has anyone heard of this?
9. I simply park apparently and walk straight to MK????

1. The resort monorail starts at 7:00. It's not a secret.
2. The resort monorail starts at 7:00. The express Monorail starts an hour before the park opens.
3. The chances of that happening are infinitesimal. I've only ever heard of it happening once or twice.
4. You can park at the TTC and take the resort Monorail.
5. Never, ever call Disney for anything. Phone CMs are wrong more often than they are right.
6. Absolute nonsense. If the monorail isn't running, there will be a bus. You can absolutely get to your ADR.
7. Absolute nonsense.
8. It does not exist.
9. Unless you can walk on water, that's completely impossible.

 

[joelkfla]

Thank you @Robo for the detailed answers, greatly appreciate it. But I have a couple more questions.

I read in an earlier post on DIS that the monorail starts at 7am, but not advertised so, is this true? when does the monorail really start running? Reason I ask is what if the security does not allow me to valet at either CR or GF due to lack of avaibility/attitude. Then what is my back up plan? park at parking lot and take mono rail to MK gates?

I called Disney and asked them what time the parking lot opens, a CM said
"One hour prior to park opening" they also mentioned that "the monorail starts at 8.30am" on 12/13/15 which means I would not make it to my reservation. Then CM put me on hold and said, "OK, based on your reservation, arrive at WDW, show the guard/CM your reservation and they will guide you to 'Special parking' that does not involve me using the monorail, and not indicated on the map."
Is there such a parking? Has anyone heard of this? I simply park apparently and walk straight to MK????

On some days, the Resort Monorail does open at 8:30, under the current reduced schedule. If your ADR happens to be on one of those days, buses will be running from TTC in place of the monorail; that's also the case if the monorails open late due to technical difficulties. But more likely, the phone center cm was looking at the schedule for the Express Monorail, which normally opens at 8:30.

The TTC parking lot never closes. There's always at least one lane with a green light at the toll plaza, which may or may not be manned by a Security cm.

The "special parking" is actually at CR. Guests are directed there for tours that start earlier than, or right at 7am, such as the Magic Behind Our Steam Trains. But that won't apply to an 8am ADR, since either the Resort Monorail or substitute buses will be running from TTC.

 

[Star Mom]

Thank you very much for all the detail information. Greatly appreciate it!

Going to def follow your advice and just a little nervous about the whole morning that we are going to be there. But I'm sure that it is going to be ok.

Thanks again everyone!